Looking to be a first time S buyer
Discussion
Hi there, this is my first post on PH so please be kind.
I've been looking at S's to buy for a while now & have noticed prices creeping up. I've seen a beautiful 1, that's for sale in Sandy Beds and I don't think it will be around for long. If I can see it, it will be this weekend. I know I need to check the chassis for rust & have a look at the engine as there are no pics online but I'm not 100% what I'm looking for, if there is a problem.
I was going to start hard core search after my hol coming up but I saw this and thought there's no time like the present!
Any advise would be much appreciated.
I've been looking at S's to buy for a while now & have noticed prices creeping up. I've seen a beautiful 1, that's for sale in Sandy Beds and I don't think it will be around for long. If I can see it, it will be this weekend. I know I need to check the chassis for rust & have a look at the engine as there are no pics online but I'm not 100% what I'm looking for, if there is a problem.
I was going to start hard core search after my hol coming up but I saw this and thought there's no time like the present!
Any advise would be much appreciated.
klh-tivvy said:
I've seen a beautiful 1
Beautiful 1 as in car or 1 as in S1?Half an hours Googling will give you an overwhelming amount of buying advice. here's one to get you started
As with any old car within minutes of seeing it and speaking to the owner you'll get a feel for whether it's been cherished and cared for or not?
Ask for photos of the engine bay. If that looks like it's been well cared for then chances are the rest of the car has been as well. Also ask for the car to be put up on a ramp so that you can have a good look at the chassis. Even on a ramp though the problem areas around the top corners of the outriggers are difficult to see.
Good luck.
Good luck.
There are various professionals who will inspect the car for you and give you a written assessment. Rob Ingleby (findasportscar) is very well known for this but there will be others offering a similar service. Obviously these professionals would expect to be paid for their service.
There are also several TVR Car Club regions in the area. These are always recommended for new or prospective TVR owners. I recommend you take yourself along to one of the monthly meetings and see if you can persuade an experienced S owner to go with you to inspect the car.
There are also several TVR Car Club regions in the area. These are always recommended for new or prospective TVR owners. I recommend you take yourself along to one of the monthly meetings and see if you can persuade an experienced S owner to go with you to inspect the car.
It is a shame that Richard Kitchen's buyers guide to the S isnt out quite yet.
If you have a link to the advert for the car a few of us will study it and give you some issues to check out.
I would NOT rule out an S1. Just as much fun and there isn't that much difference in performance. A good S1 should be a little cheaper so arguably better value for money!!! But then I am biased. S1's are also rising in price quite well.
If you have a link to the advert for the car a few of us will study it and give you some issues to check out.
I would NOT rule out an S1. Just as much fun and there isn't that much difference in performance. A good S1 should be a little cheaper so arguably better value for money!!! But then I am biased. S1's are also rising in price quite well.
greymrj said:
If you have a link to the advert for the car a few of us will study it and give you some issues to check out.
A Google search for TVR S For Sale In Sandy Beds shows this one:https://www.my-next-car.co.uk/used-tvr-280-s-sandy...
tileart said:
A Google search for TVR S For Sale In Sandy Beds shows this one:
https://www.my-next-car.co.uk/used-tvr-280-s-sandy...
That looks familiar? wasn't it "discussed" recently?https://www.my-next-car.co.uk/used-tvr-280-s-sandy...
Personally I'd view that with my eyes very wide open !
on the plus side, inspecting the back end of the chassis shouldn't be a problem..... you could walk under there!
Edited by phillpot on Tuesday 12th June 19:25
phillpot said:
That looks familiar? wasn't it "discussed" recently?
Yes ... all about what the colour is ? The missing headlight rim is an easy replacement, but it's hard to tell from the low-res pictures if the front indicators are OK ?? I'd say the left one (i.e. on the right in the pic) is a bit mashed.
phillpot said:
on the plus side, inspecting the back end of the chassis shouldn't be a problem..... you could walk under there!
On a serious note for a moment... in the olden days (what my daughter calls "the black and white era"), when I was buying a car I'd always "test the shock absorbers" by giving the front/rear wings of the car a good downward shove. Of course I had no idea what I was doing.... so in the case of the ref blue S, what would you expect if you were to give the bodywork above the rear wheel arches a good testing ? (apart from a severe bashing from the seller). In fact what would you expect on any S ? -- mine pretty much doesn't move in response to that test.The ad says "was damaged in 1993 and fully repaired". Are they trying to not say that it was Cat C or D insurance right off? Think this is the first question that I would ask.
I don't think that the £6k price reflects a written off car. Should be closer to £4k for me.
Of course it may not have been a right off, in which case the price seems about right.
I remember seeing Mark 1 Ford Escorts being jacked up at the rear end like that. But that was back in the Eighties, lol. Definitely some adjustment required there.
I don't think that the £6k price reflects a written off car. Should be closer to £4k for me.
Of course it may not have been a right off, in which case the price seems about right.
I remember seeing Mark 1 Ford Escorts being jacked up at the rear end like that. But that was back in the Eighties, lol. Definitely some adjustment required there.
tileart said:
On a serious note for a moment... in the olden days (what my daughter calls "the black and white era"), when I was buying a car I'd always "test the shock absorbers" by giving the front/rear wings of the car a good downward shove. Of course I had no idea what I was doing.... so in the case of the ref blue S, what would you expect if you were to give the bodywork above the rear wheel arches a good testing ? (apart from a severe bashing from the seller). In fact what would you expect on any S ? -- mine pretty much doesn't move in response to that test.
More a test of the dampers (shock absorbers) than anything else. Push down and release and the corner should rebound slightly above normal and then drop back to the normal level. If it yo-yo's up and down then the dampers are knackered and you can negotiate a discount.On highly damped sports cars you may not get the rebound above normal level when you release it, just a return back to normal.
Tyre kicking on the other hand just hurts your toes and makes you look like a complete amateur
.OMG GUYS! Thanks for all your advice, as it's my 1st post so I didn't think I could put a link on for the car. I live in Manchester but was prepared to drive down to see it. I have had advice off a garage owner not to go any where near it cos of all the suggestions you've stated & was also informed it seemed expensive 
hopefully the right car will come up nearer to home. I'm going to print all your advice so I've got a buying guide copy of my own. Thanks again TVRCC member 20111 
hopefully the right car will come up nearer to home. I'm going to print all your advice so I've got a buying guide copy of my own. Thanks again TVRCC member 20111 
Kirstie and I are acquainted through our local TVR Club meets, and we have had a telephone chat about this particular S1.
Although it looks a pretty car , I was dubious as to the reason the vendor had not included any photos of the engine bay or chassis, and the price is pretty steep for an S1 that has had previous accident damage.
Can anyone shed any light on it?.
As for the jacked up back end, it may have the wrong length dampers fitted. It does look a bit extreme.
And you'd think they would have fitted a new headlamp ring before taking pics for the ad.
Doesn't inspire confidence.
Keep searching, Kirstie, there will be a good S come up for you in due course.
Although it looks a pretty car , I was dubious as to the reason the vendor had not included any photos of the engine bay or chassis, and the price is pretty steep for an S1 that has had previous accident damage.
phillpot said:
That looks familiar? wasn't it "discussed" recently?
Personally I'd view that with my eyes very wide open !
on the plus side, inspecting the back end of the chassis shouldn't be a problem..... you could walk under there!
Now that you mention it, Mike, ISTR that somebody on here went to look at it last time it was advertised, but I can't remember his verdict on it. Personally I'd view that with my eyes very wide open !
on the plus side, inspecting the back end of the chassis shouldn't be a problem..... you could walk under there!
Can anyone shed any light on it?.
As for the jacked up back end, it may have the wrong length dampers fitted. It does look a bit extreme.
And you'd think they would have fitted a new headlamp ring before taking pics for the ad.
Doesn't inspire confidence.
Keep searching, Kirstie, there will be a good S come up for you in due course.
Edited by glenrobbo on Wednesday 13th June 21:38
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